Maureen Brown

[Bruce M. Thomson]

On line drummer magazine article on Maureen Brown. Ladies, feel free to log in and discuss similar experiences. I have personally heard Maureen here in Toronto back in the late 80's and back then she was stellar, I can only imagine what she sounds like now.

http://issuu.com/muziketc/docs/drumsetc_v21-n5?viewMode=magazine&mode=embed

[Pollyanna]

Just read the article. It's criminal how Maureen's been treated. She has as smooth a blues groove as I've ever heard - perfect!

Maureen's MySpace page: http://www.myspace.com/maureenbrown

I've almost always played with friends but there have been times when I felt I was on the fringe as far as other musos in the local scene went because I wasn't a member of the boys' club. That's life. I can imagine a man being marginalised in a woman's world too. It didn't help that I was (am) a bit eccentric. I suspect that if Maureen was glamorous then she'd be more lauded. Sometimes it's more than one issue.

You have to be outstanding as a woman to be fully accepted in the masculine world of drumming (and the rock/blues scene generally) and since what I did was pretty well on a par with other musos on the scene, that wasn't quite enough. Maureen is outstanding, though, so not 100% sure what's going on there. Some great women drummers are well accepted.

One thing I noticed when I was gigging regularly was my playing was more laid back than what the male pounders in the scene were doing. I felt like my restraint and subtlety were not as as valued as what other equivalent drummers were doing - more dynamic and exciting.

The world has punishments for those who don't fit the stereotype and rewards for those who do. It's not a big drama or anything like that, but I noticed resistance to me at times that related to me not being quite one of the gang.

Thanks for the link, Bruce. She's a good person to know about.

[JT1]

I've just read that article and i'm shocked and appauled at how people treat her because she's a woman i thought most of the world had erased sexism from society. I guess the stereotype still remains here and there though. However i find it inspiring i love hearing about when people can do something from the start and amaze everyone else. All i can say is good for her and i hope that some of these people rethink their morals.